Michael Benton, MBA, MAS (he/him/his)

President & CEO
VyClimb Consulting. LLC
Highlands Ranch, Colorado, United States

Michael began his military service in the Army in 1993, as a Korean linguist and interrogator before becoming an OH-58D helicopter instructor pilot flying Peacekeeping missions in Bosnia and Combat operations in Iraq. After 15 years of honorable military service, he continued serving by flying as an emergency medical service pilot in command near Boulder, CO for Med-Trans Corporation.

In 2008, he started working for Air Methods Corporation as a helicopter and NVG check airman before becoming an Aviation Training Manager and head of Aviation Compliance. In this role, he was also responsible for the efficient operation of the Operations Control Center responsible for nearly 400 helicopters and airplanes across the United States and Haiti. Serving as a member of Air Methods’ aviation accident Go-Team, Michael has been a lead investigator and party member in five major NTSB helicopter accident investigations.

In 2015, Michael founded VyClimb Consulting, LLC, a global aviation management, operations and safety consulting business that has taken him around the World and throughout the United States. As an independent consultant he has engaged with numerous airline and helicopter clients, providing expertise in safety, leadership, efficiency, business strategy, and aviation operation compliance.

Michael was awarded the 2019 Jim Charlson Safety Award by the Association of Air Medical Services (AAMS). This award is presented annually to an individual who has made a significant contribution to the promotion of aviation safety within the air medical transport community.

Michael has served as the Chairman for the Helicopter Association International’s Flight Operations Working Group. He was a guest speaker at AIRMED 2018 in Warsaw Poland for European HEMS & Air Ambulance Committee (EHAC), has presented at Heli-Expo and the NTSB Training Academy since 2016, was a guest speaker at the Air Medical System Conference in Shanghai, China.

Disclosure information not submitted.

Presentation(s):

• After the Accident: Leadership Role & Working with the NTSB

  Monday, October 24, 2022
  14:15 – 15:15

• Before the Accident: Because After is Too Late

  Monday, October 24, 2022
  16:45 – 17:15